Kyrenia
A horseshoe-shaped old harbour in Northern Cyprus, with an ancient shipwreck in its castle and Bellapais Abbey and St Hilarion Castle on the ridge behind.
Kyrenia (Turkish: Girne) lies on the north coast of Cyprus and is the most popular resort town in Northern Cyprus (the Turkish Cypriot-controlled area). To the south rises the narrow Kyrenia mountain range, beyond which Nicosia is about 25 km away. The town centres on its horseshoe-shaped old harbour, lined by the Venetian castle and the Shipwreck Museum, while churches and mosques are scattered through the lanes of the old town. Sights in the surrounding area fall roughly into three routes: southeast to Bellapais Abbey, Buffavento Castle on the ridge and the Church of Antiphonitis; southwest to St Hilarion Castle and the village of Karmi; and along the coast, east to Alagadi Turtle Beach and west to Lapta and its beaches. About 60 km further west are ancient Soli, Vouni Palace and the Church of St Mamas in Morphou, which make a good day trip. Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct have the most pleasant weather for hiking up to the castles; Jul–Aug is hot and best spent at the beach. Allow 3–4 days, ideally with a car; note that traffic drives on the left. Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. Visitors usually fly via Turkey to Ercan Airport, or enter the Republic of Cyprus at Larnaca and then cross north on foot or by car at checkpoints such as those in Nicosia. Check the latest rules on crossings and rental car insurance. The Turkish lira is the local currency, though euros are widely accepted.
Top sights
- Kyrenia Harbour – A horseshoe-shaped old harbour lined with restaurants and cafés in converted stone warehouses, with a castle and mountains behind it. It is…
- Kyrenia Castle & Shipwreck Museum – A seaside castle with Byzantine origins and Venetian fortifications. Its museum displays the Kyrenia Shipwreck, an ancient vessel from abou…
- Bellapais Abbey – The ruins of a 13th-century Gothic abbey on a hillside. Its cloister arches frame sea views, making it one of the most beautiful Gothic bui…
- St. Hilarion Castle – A fairy-tale castle perched on the Kyrenia mountain ridge, built in three tiers that follow the slope. The Queen’s Window at the top overlo…
- Buffavento Castle – The highest Crusader castle in the Kyrenia Mountains (about 950 m). Few ruins remain, but from the summit you can see both the north and so…
- Alagadi Turtle Beach – A natural beach reserve east of Kyrenia where green and loggerhead turtles nest. On summer nights, visitors can join conservation programs…
- Antiphonitis Church – A 12th-century Byzantine church in the forested hills of Kyrenia, with rare medieval wall paintings and a quiet setting.
- Karmi (Karaman) Village – A whitewashed hillside village with restored old houses and stone-paved lanes covered in flowers, plus a few small taverns and galleries an…
- Hazreti Ömer Tomb – A white Muslim shrine on a rocky seaside headland, venerating a 7th-century Arab warrior, surrounded by sea on three sides. It is a local p…
- Archangel Michael Icon Museum – A white Orthodox church on the cliff above the old harbor, now an icon museum displaying 18th- and 19th-century icons from churches across…
- Lapta (Lapithos) – A spring-fed hill village about 15 km west of Kyrenia, with stepped lanes surrounded by citrus groves and olive woods. Ideal for a half-day…
- Sourp Magar Monastery – The ruins of an Armenian monastery in the forests of the Kyrenia Mountains, reachable on foot along forest trails.
- Escape Beach – A popular beach club west of Kyrenia with fine sand and good facilities, offering swimming by day and parties by night.
- Lambousa – The seaside site of the ancient city-state of Lapithos below Lapta, with rock-cut fish tanks, ancient tombs and the Acheiropoietos Monaster…
- Agios Mamas Church, Morphou – A Byzantine-Gothic church in Güzelyurt (Morphou) with an icon museum, housing the marble sarcophagus of St Mamas.
- Ancient Soli – The site of one of Cyprus's ten ancient city-kingdoms, with a restored Roman theatre and a finely preserved mosaic floor of swans.
Where to eat
- Ezic Peanuts Seaside Restaurant – Seaside terrace behind the castle, where every table gets a bucket of shell-on peanuts. A popular spot with locals and…
- Archway Meze Restaurant – Traditional meze restaurant in the Zeytinlik village above Kyrenia, serving cold and hot dishes one after another, foll…
- Nima Restaurant & Lounge – Refined seafront restaurant beside the old harbor, consistently ranked No. 1 among harbor-area restaurants in Kyrenia o…
- Set Fish Restaurant – Seafood spot on Kyrenia's old harbor, with terraces overlooking fishing boats and the castle. Fresh fish and seafood me…
Itineraries
- Northern Cyprus Coast & Karpas Peninsula – Explore the north side of the Green Line, visiting Kyrenia's ancient harbor, mountaintop castles, and the remote coast…